Mahamed Mahamed: Briton balancing London Marathon training with fasting for Ramadan

Mahamed has based himself in the town of Ifrane in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains as he builds towards April’s race.

The location allows him to train safely under the floodlights of the track at night, alongside other Muslims currently observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan by not eating or drinking during daylight hours.

At their longest, Mahamed’s days extend into the early hours of the morning. He will head out for his first session at around 4pm, then break his fast and attend mosque before completing a second session.

Once he is adequately refuelled, Mahamed will sleep for an hour or two and then wake for more food at about 4am, before returning to bed to top up on sleep.

“It’s a little bit hard,” Mahamed admitted.

“I take my job seriously, but Ramadan is the most important for me. It makes me focus as well. It makes me understand who I am and what I could do.”

Mahamed is among four active British marathon runners to have clocked under 2:08, alongside triathlete Alex Yee, Emile Cairess and Philip Sesemann, in what he describes as a “new era” cohort.

Fourth at the 2024 London Marathon, he will target a personal best in London before chasing a European Championship medal in Birmingham this summer.